Chapter 16: The food is not the fault, the arrogance is
Chapter 16: The food is not the fault, the arrogance is
There may be something wrong with Rashford's mentality. After losing the ball, he just pursed his lips and lowered his head and walked back without any apology to his teammates around him.
This self-absorbed look really made the blood pressure of the Manchester United fans at the scene rise!
Including those die-hard Manchester United fans who originally supported Rashford.
From their point of view, Rashford's choice of being a silent player at this time is very disappointing to them!
Yes, everyone understands that your playing time was drastically reduced due to injuries at the beginning of this season. After your comeback, your firing rights were reduced, and you encountered the turbulent coaching change. It is normal for your mentality to be a little unbalanced.
But this is not a reason for you to willfully wander outside the team and tactical system!
For you, everyone took risks to put pressure on the new head coach who led the team to three consecutive victories, and also had quarrels with other friends who are also Manchester United fans.
Now the new head coach has put aside past grudges and directly given him a chance to start, and he is facing a weak opponent with no desire or ambition.
So this is how you repay your fans for supporting you with such a bad performance?!
Why not be a little more humble at this moment and give a thumbs up to your teammates who helped you win the ball?
Just because they are substitutes and youth players who have just been given a chance to play, can you ignore their hard work?
It's so inappropriate!
The boos from the crowd showed no sign of stopping any time soon.
But at this moment, under the gaze of the live camera, Li Chen just shook his head calmly, without showing any disappointment or impatience.
This surprised many fans who thought Li Chen was deliberately punishing Rashford.
"Return to defense! Pay attention to your positioning efficiency and don't let the opponent pass through the midfield quickly!"
Li Chen shouted a few words loudly to the audience, obviously paying more attention to the team's defensive efficiency.
When the other Manchester United players on the field heard this, they no longer had time to speculate on the relationship between the head coach and Rashford, and they all quickened their pace in returning to defense.
Seeing this, Carrick swallowed back the words that were about to come out of his mouth, picked up the tactical board and continued to record the performance of Elanga and Diallo.
Young Boys' quick counterattack failed due to the repeated attacks from Manchester United's midfield and frontcourt players, and they could only pass the ball back and reorganize the game.
Li Chen looked at the two young players who were actively retreating to participate in the defense, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He seemed to be in a good mood and was not affected by Rashford's poor performance at all.
However, even if he did not say it explicitly, Manchester United's firing rights on the field gradually concentrated at Greenwood's feet.
This was a tactical decision made by Mata, who played as a central midfielder today.
Under his command, Diallo, who was standing closer to Greenwood, actively looked for Greenwood to pass and cut.
Greenwood quickly repaid his supportive teammates with a powerful mid-range shot that hit the post.
Compared to Rashford, Greenwood is more of a comprehensive and high-quality shooter.
He has balanced techniques with both feet, and the connection before shooting is simpler and smoother. He is not affected by the shooting angle and dares to take a shot when there is an opportunity, and he always threatens the opponent's goal.
The performance levels of the two forwards are here, and the other Manchester United players on the field naturally prefer to give Greenwood the right to shoot.
Anyway, the coaching staff's tactical arrangement before the game was to focus on both wings and create more scoring opportunities for the two forwards in the middle, but it did not say whether Rashford or Greenwood would be the main attacker.
Rashford looked at his teammates' choices and didn't know what he was thinking. His already slow running pace slowed down even more and he looked even lazier.
However, Manchester United's suppression on the field was not affected.
Young Boys Bern, who had already been eliminated from the Champions League group stage, had little fighting spirit. Furthermore, they were playing away from home, so it was hard to say that the players were fighting hard for the team's honor.
After all, Manchester United created more breakthrough passing opportunities. In the 24th minute of the first half, Greenwood received a pass from Elanga and followed up with a shot to score!
Seeing Greenwood's condition improve, the mood of the Manchester United fans at the scene finally improved.
There is still one young player who is doing well. Li Chen is willing to give him a chance and the tactics he formulated are also appropriate, and Greenwood seized the opportunity directly.
On the other hand...
Forget it, if he still can’t recognize the reality of the situation, then let him continue to suffer!
Fighting against a head coach who can lead the team to victory for a player who needs the coaxing of the head coach and fans to play in good form?
Manchester United fans are not stupid!
Now they know clearly which side they should stand on.
The Sky Sports commentator also implicitly criticized Rashford at this time.
If he continues to perform like this, not only will Rashford not be able to keep his position in Manchester United, he will also most likely lose his position in the national team.
You are in poor form and unwilling to work hard on defense. You are outside the team's tactical system. With this kind of mentality, which head coach would dare to use you?
The vast majority of fans watching this game felt that Rashford would most likely be substituted at halftime.
Li Chen was giving him some face by not replacing him in the first half of the game.
But his performance on the court was completely negative, and the fans really couldn't think of a reason why Li Chen would continue to use him in the second half of the game.
And Li Chen seemed to be responding to the fans' fantasies. After communicating with coach Carrick in advance, he directly called up several youth training players on the bench and asked them to warm up on the sidelines!
Among them is the younger Manchester United youth training center forward Shortell.
Even if Li Chen does not choose to make a substitution, he can also change to 4231 and replace Rashford with two youth training midfielders, Savage or Iqbal.
Being able to get a chance to play in the Champions League is a dream opportunity for these Manchester United youth players.
They warmed up very hard on the sidelines, and the Manchester United fans at the scene were also looking forward to Li Chen digging out some more useful talents from this batch of youth training...
Greenwood had three more shooting opportunities in the last twenty minutes of the first half, two of which hit the goal frame, but were both saved by Young Boys' goalkeeper.
In the end, the score between the two teams in the first half was fixed at 1-0.
Greenwood played steadily and helped Manchester United score the first goal.
Another starting striker, Rashford, performed poorly. At the end of the first half, he left the field on his own without even saying hello to any of his teammates.
Carrick looked at Rashford like this and sighed in anger.
Through this period of time with Li Chen, he has come to understand that for Li Chen, your weaker ability does not mean you are wrong, and he will not look down on you. Instead, he will arrange you to a more suitable position to contribute to the team.
But arrogance. That is the original sin!
As expected, after all the starting players returned to the locker room, Li Chen simply explained the tactics for the second half of the game, and then directly criticized Rashford by name!
"Marcus, did I ask before the game that all the players in the frontcourt must return to defense in time today? This is a hard tactical instruction made by the coaching staff, but you basically didn't return to defense today!
Do you think you performed very well in the first half? Do you think you are qualified not to participate in the team's overall defense? Or do you think I am not qualified to give you tactical instructions to try to get back to defense? ! "
Li Chen's few words of accountability immediately silenced the entire home team's locker room!
Including several main players, everyone is now surprised by Li Chen’s tough criticism of Rashford!
After all, Li Chen had never been so serious in the locker room before, and his current prestige in the team was established by leading the team to victory in succession.
His sudden and ruthless public criticism of a player immediately made all the Manchester United players present feel nervous!
“I don’t want to say you played like shit in the first half because I think that’s an insult to shit.
You can tell me that you are not in a good condition today, or even tell me that you are in a bad mood today, and I can definitely understand you, but what I cannot understand is that after you get on the court, you just walk around there without any desire to fight!
Do you think I was talking nonsense when I privately approached you last time to remind you to be more dedicated in training and games? Do you think my promise to give you playing time is forever? Or do you think that you can rest on your laurels and start at Manchester United forever just because you have performed well in the past? ! "
Li Chen's merciless questioning was like a heavy hammer hitting Rashford's heart!
Even Mourinho, who had the most tense relationship with him, had never used such a harsh tone when publicly criticizing him in the locker room!
This is totally a rhythm of falling out!
At least that's how it seems to Rashford.
He wanted to refute, but when he thought of his previous poor performance and looked up at Li Chen's serious eyes, the words he had prepared in his mind could not be uttered.
He was deflated, as if he had accepted his fate, and just hung his head, ready to accept Li Chen's next violent verbal attack.
But to his surprise, after criticizing him, Li Chen just asked him to clear his mind and reflect on his own problems.
Then he changed the subject and praised Elanga and Diallo for their performance on the field today.
The atmosphere in the locker room was finally less tense, and the two young players who were praised by Li Chen became even more excited.
Rashford was obviously relieved, but soon his face was full of worry again, as if he had already seen himself sitting on the bench for the rest of the season.
Now he truly felt fear and regret.
Li Chen is a capable head coach, and the top management now trusts and relies on him.
If they have to choose between him and himself, Rashford believes that the top management will definitely choose Li Chen this time.
Rashford doesn't want to sit on the bench for a long time, and he doesn't want to leave Manchester United.
Faced with the harsh reality, he had to really lower his mental attitude and be prepared to actively find Li Chen to communicate and admit his mistakes after the game.
Soon, the halftime break was coming to an end.
One by one, the Manchester United players who started in the first half stood up and encouraged each other, making final mobilization preparations.
Rashford hesitated for a moment, and finally chose not to continue to make Li Chen angry at this time. He sat aside and waited for Li Chen to announce his ultimatum to replace him with another player.
But what he waited for was Li Chen's frown and question.
"What are you still standing there for? Get ready to go on the field. If you really don't want to play, just tell me and I'll arrange for someone to replace you right away."
Rashford was stunned when he heard Li Chen's words, but fortunately Greenwood was quick to pull him into the team that was mobilizing morale.
Rashford's mind was still a little dizzy until he finally walked into the player tunnel with his teammates.
The head coach did not replace him at halftime. Is this... continuing to give him opportunities?
"cheer up!"
Before stepping onto the field again, Rashford heard some harsh words in his ears.
He didn't dare look back at Li Chen's expression, and there was no longer any sense of indifference in his heart.
Are you grateful? Maybe a little.
After all, Li Chen still gave him a chance and did not kill him.
But at this moment, he felt more awe towards Li Chen.
Facing a head coach who criticized you mercilessly in public but still chose to give you another chance.
Rashford no longer had the slightest resistance or rebellion in his heart.
With such ups and downs in mood, it is very difficult to perform well on the court, especially on the offensive end.
However, putting in more active running and fighting spirit on the defensive end is not a problem for Rashford now.
The more actively he runs back to defense, the more energy Greenwood can save and focus on offense.
Manchester United's defense in the left half has also been strengthened a lot, and Luke Shaw can even hold the ball and advance to the opponent's core area more confidently!
The change in this situation is very obvious.
The Manchester United fans at home looked at Rashford in disbelief as he suddenly became diligent!
The team's well-known lazy guy suddenly turned into a B2B "running back"?
What's going on!
The confused Manchester United fans subconsciously looked towards the coaching seats.
But at this moment, Li Chen, who was staring at the changes in the situation on the field, still had a very calm expression, and there was no sign of any psychological changes at all.
The Red Devils fans couldn't find any evidence, but they all thought in their hearts that Li Chen must have done something during the half-time break, which led to Rashford's change!
Otherwise, how do we explain the fact that Rashford was not substituted at halftime and his attitude changed drastically?
Manchester United fans don’t know how Li Chen motivates Rashford, but at this moment, they all support Li Chen’s management style!
The main players who can fight hard, the well-structured rotation lineup, the hardworking young players...
They’re back, the thriving Manchester United is really back!
(End of this chapter)